Korms peters co



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

E. L. OPPERMANN. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAOTING GOLD, 650., FROM DRY GRUSHED 0113s.

No. 596,535. Patented Jan.4,1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. L. OPPERMANN. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING GOLD, 650., FROM DRY GRUSHED 033s.

Patented Jan. 4,1898.

m: Munms PETERS no we're-Limo" wnsumo'rou. 11c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL L. OPPERMANN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GOLD, &c., FROM DRY-CRUSHED ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,535, dated January 4, 1898.

Application filed March 11, 1 8 9 '7.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL L. OPPERMANN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and'a resident of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Gold and the Like Metals from Dry-Crushed Ores, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for effecting the extraction of gold andthe like metals in ores, the object being to more effectually amalgamate what is known more particularly as float-gold 'in ores or Very finely-divided gold, the same being constructed and utilized in the following manner, and I will now proceed to describe the apparatus with which the process is carried out.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a side elevation of same; Fig. 3, a section through line m y in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1,2, and 3, a is a retort in which the mercury is heated by any wellknown source of heat, a tap a being provided for regulating the supply of fumes to the injector. The vapor will then pass to the injector b, which may be of any Well-known type suitable for the purpose. The steam, which is generated in a. boiler c, is brought through the pipe 01 to the injector b ata suitable pressure. The mixed mercuryvapor and steam then passes through the pipe 6 to the perforated pipes f, having the perfora-' tions at g in the direction of their length.

The steam performs a special function in combination with the injector namely, by ejecting the mercury-vapor and at the same time intimately mixing with same and forcing same upon the ore before condensation can take place between the point of entrance and exit. The crushed ore is fed from the mixer h by means of the pipe ito the covered passage orslide j, and upon which the mixed steam and mercury-vapor impinge during the passage of the ore to the electrolytic rods is, which are secured to the bars Z by screws 4: or the like, or the ore may pass direct from the stamps to the passage j without the intervention of the mixer. The rods m are pivotally connected at n to the bars Z and at o to the supports 0, by which means it will be seen that the bars may be raised or lowered, as required, be-

Serial No. 627,026. (No model.)

ing shown in their raised position in Fig. 2 and in theirlower position bythe dotted lines. The bottom g of the channel 13 is metallic and has a slight inclination toward the lower end, and the bars k in their lowest position do not of course touch this metallic bottom 9, as the bars 70 and the bottom 9 form two electric terminals.

r is a shallow rotating pan which is driven by the bevel-wheels s and pulley t by means I of any convenient power.

a and o are two electrodescarried upon the supports w and which dip into the rotating pan r.

a; is a fixed piece which projects into the rotating pan 1' and tends to guide the contents of the pan upon the electrodes to and 'v.

y is a pipe having the stop-cocks, so that when desired a certain amount of steam may be admitted to the mixer h, and 2 is a pipe by which steam maybe admitted to the covered slide j, with or without mercury-vapor mixed therewith.

The mixer h consists, essentially, of a vessel having conical sides in which a series of mixing-arms l are rotated by means of the bevel-wheels 2 and pulleys 3, driven by any convenient power.

d is a branch pipe for enabling steam alone to be introduced into the mixer h or to the covered slide 7'.

Although I have shown this form of mixer it will be readily seen that any of the wellknown forms of mixers may be equally well employed.

When it is desired to mix ammonia-gas with the mercury-vapor and steam, the ammoniagas may be mixed with same either in the injector Z2, as shown by the dotted lines 4, or

through which the mixed mercury-vapor and steam are blown under pressure :upon the crushed ore; a mixer 'havin g rotating arms in I which the ore is mixed; a pipe or pipes for conveying steam to said mixer; electrodes carried by movable supports, and forming one terminalof a circuit; a ch-annelhavi'ng a metallic bottom over which the ore passes forming the other terminal and over which I0 said electrodes depend; a rotating pan having electrodes in same; a fixed projection for agitating the contents of the pan; all in combination and substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of I 5 January, 1897.

- EMIL L. OPPEBMANN.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN CLARK, WILLIAM JOHN WEEKS. 

